MLB sniffed out Melky’s scheme
Major League Baseball confirmed a New York Daily News report Sunday that an associate of San Francisco Giants outfielder Melky Cabrera purchased a website and attempted to create evidence to support a claim that Cabrera inadvertently took the substance that caused a positive drug test.
MLB officials uncovered the scheme as Cabrera prepared his case to challenge the test. Cabrera’s grievance then was dropped, and MLB suspended him for 50 games Wednesday for testosterone use.
Six to seven investigators from MLB spent several weeks working to uncover the plan, an official familiar with the probe said. The person spoke on condition of anonymity because MLB didn’t authorize anyone to discuss the matter publicly.
The person said Juan Nunez, who works with Cabrera’s agents, purchased an existing website and tried to alter it in a manner that would allow Cabrera to claim the positive test was caused by a substance obtained through the website. The Daily News reported Nunez paid $10,000 for the website.
The Daily News quoted Nunez as saying that he was ‘‘accepting responsibility’’ and that Cabrera’s agents weren’t involved in the plan.
Tigers squander 5-0 lead
Chris Davis, J.J. Hardy and Nate McLouth drove in two runs apiece, and the visiting Baltimore Orioles overcame a five-run deficit after the first inning to defeat the Detroit Tigers 7-5.
Jhonny Peralta hit a threerun home run to highlight a five-run first for the Tigers, who remained 11⁄2 games behind the White Sox in the battle for first place in the American League Central.
Pedro Alvarez homered and Andrew McCutchen added a two-run single in a three-run 19th inning that lifted the Pittsburgh Pirates past the host St. Louis Cardinals. It was the longest game in the majors this season, both in terms of innings and in terms of time (6 hours, 7 minutes).
Interim skipper loses debut
The Houston Astros (39-83) named Tony DeFrancesco interim manager after firing Brad Mills the day before. DeFrancesco, who had been the manager of the Astros’ Class AAA team, lost his major-league debut when the Astros were beaten by the visiting Arizona Diamondbacks 8-1.
Ichiro, Kuroda fuel Yanks
Ichiro Suzuki hit two solo homers against Josh Beckett (5-11), and Hiroki Kuroda (12-8) yielded one run and four hits in eight innings to help the host New York Yankees top the Boston Red Sox 4-1.